The record from the VfB viewpoint:
Total: 38 games, 16 wins, 5 draws, 17 defeats, 53:61 goal-difference
Home: 19 games, 11 wins, 3 draws, 5 defeats, 32:25 goal-difference
Away: 19 games, 5 wins, 2 draws, 12 defeats, 21:36 goal-difference
Support
Some 50,000 spectators are expected to fill the Mercedes-Benz Arena this Saturday afternoon, with approximately 500 travelling fans making the trip from Wolfsburg.
Further meetings
Aside from their 38 previous clashes in the Bundesliga, VfB have faced VfL in the DFB-Cup on five occasions. The Cannstatt Boys progressed past the Wolves each time – most recently at the semi-final stage in 2007 (1-0).
Familiar faces
Daniel Didavi returns to his former haunting ground for the first time since making the move to VfL. Born in Nürtingen, the playmaker wore the shirt with the infamous red hoop from 1997 onwards, with intermittent one-year loan spells in Nürtingen and at 1. FC Nürnberg. Mario Gomez is also fondly remembered in Cannstatt. In 121 league games between 2001 and 2009, the striker scored 63 goals for VfB. The German international misses out this Saturday through injury.
Home strength
Hannes Wolf’s men are unbeaten at home in competitive action in 2017 – with VfB leaving the field of play in the Mercedes-Benz Arena as winners in eight from ten games. From 19 previous home clashes with VfL Wolfsburg, the Wasenelf won eleven and drew three.
Two-time champion
VfB captain Christian Gentner is White & Red through and through. At the club since 199, the midfielder celebrated the German championship win with the Cannstatt Boys in 2007. The following summer, Gentner moved on to VfL Wolfsburg, where he became a German champion once again two years later, before returning to Mercedesstraße in July 2010.